I think the starting hand size should be reduced from 7 to 6.
Here are the pros and cons of such a change
Pros:
. Power down combo and aggro decks
. Slow the games down
. Make control better (this is the #1 thing I hear about wanting in standard/modern)
. Less of a dice-roll game, because the extra card actually matters slightly more
. Cards that generate card advantage will be more highly valued
Cons
. Players will need to mulligan more often (this can be mitigated by running more lands)
. Cantrips become better, but not by too much
. Discard becomes better, but not by too much
I think overall this will be an improvement. When you start with 7 cards in your opening hand it becomes too easy to cobble together game-winning combos or explosive aggressive curves such as we are seeing now in standard. Reducing the hand size will make games go on for a bit longer and thus give players more time to interact with each other.
I'm wondering how exactly "slows the games down" is a pro. Which games? Kitchen table? Pro Tour? Those in a particular format? or ALL games? Either way, I'm not convinced 7 feels fine!
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EDH/Commander
UBR Sedris RG Omnath, Locus of Rage UB The Scarab God RUG Maelstrom Wanderer WU Dragonlord Ojutai
Going to 6 is going to lead to more Mana problems primarily. Most decks need 3 lands to operate by turn 5. Going to 6 means you are going to reduce the probability of that happening significantly. Also, people will start keeping 1 land hands more often after they mulligan. RDW win will benefit since it has the lowest mana base and all 4+ mana cards will suffer.
I don't think a starting hand of size would slow the game down as much people think. I think it's fine idea, but current mulligan rules would need to be reworked. Otherwise, mulligans could start to get punishing.
There is no reason the mulligan rule would not also be changed if this rule were to be put into place - in fact it probably most certainly would have to be changed to accommodate for it.
It would be a slight change at first, but as with many changes to Magic we would get used to it and after a while even forget how it used to be before. Reducing the consistency of "nut" hands from affinity, aggro, and combo decks and making control better is my main reason for this proposition. Try it out, and I think you will be surprised at how effective it actually is
How does it help control? Have you tried it? It seems like all it should do is make the low-land count decks -- especially Burn or Red Aggro -- far better. After all, Burn just gets slowed down by half a turn, since it needs to draw one more bolt out of the 40 or so it plays (land problems don't really bother it). On the other hand, this significantly reduces the number of cards a control deck will see while trying to find Leyline of Sanctity or its incidental lifegain, while also hurting its multi-color landbase.
It hurts people trying to find particular threats or combos, but remember that control decks also often need to find very particular answers -- heck, the variety of answers needed is the main reason control doesn't work well in Standard or Modern at the moment.
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"It is better for all the world if, instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind. The principle that sustains compulsory vaccination is broad enough to cover cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three generations of imbeciles are enough."
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
If creatures are "general questions" and removal/countermagic "specific answers" how does reducing maximum hand size help control, again?
Also, making the worst thing about magic even worse (mana problems) is literally the last thing I ever want to see. I have been an advocate for 8 card hands for a long time for that reason.
Here are the pros and cons of such a change
Pros:
. Power down combo and aggro decks
. Slow the games down
. Make control better (this is the #1 thing I hear about wanting in standard/modern)
. Less of a dice-roll game, because the extra card actually matters slightly more
. Cards that generate card advantage will be more highly valued
Cons
. Players will need to mulligan more often (this can be mitigated by running more lands)
. Cantrips become better, but not by too much
. Discard becomes better, but not by too much
I think overall this will be an improvement. When you start with 7 cards in your opening hand it becomes too easy to cobble together game-winning combos or explosive aggressive curves such as we are seeing now in standard. Reducing the hand size will make games go on for a bit longer and thus give players more time to interact with each other.
UBR Sedris
RG Omnath, Locus of Rage
UB The Scarab God
RUG Maelstrom Wanderer
WU Dragonlord Ojutai
I loathe creatures! Praise Prison and Land Destruction!
My Peasant Cube (looking for feedback)
It would be a slight change at first, but as with many changes to Magic we would get used to it and after a while even forget how it used to be before. Reducing the consistency of "nut" hands from affinity, aggro, and combo decks and making control better is my main reason for this proposition. Try it out, and I think you will be surprised at how effective it actually is
It hurts people trying to find particular threats or combos, but remember that control decks also often need to find very particular answers -- heck, the variety of answers needed is the main reason control doesn't work well in Standard or Modern at the moment.
--Buck v Bell, 1927. This case, regarding the compulsory sterilization of inmates at mental institutions, has -- somehow -- never been overturned. Just a wee PSA for ya.
Exacerbating that glaring, overwhelming and terrible flaw is a great way to make MtG worse.
This is a bad idea and you should feel bad.
Have you crushed the actual numbers? Goldfished games? Played with 6 instead of 7 against your friends? Perfect hand? What have you done?
" Yes, i'm aware he mentioned Standard, however sucha change (if such a change were to occur) would have an affect on all Magic.
Also, making the worst thing about magic even worse (mana problems) is literally the last thing I ever want to see. I have been an advocate for 8 card hands for a long time for that reason.
My CubeCobra (draft 20 card packs, 2 packs.)
430, Peasant, Very Unpowered
Why you should take your hybrids out of your gold section
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